Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ariellowen]

I mean, not adult. When I first got out here, a boy asked me for my email, "no way, that's private!" I said, to which he nearly cried. A few months later, another boy asked me to come and play ping-pong with him at his apartment common-room. I declined. A few more months passed, a girl aked for my hand-phone number. I gave it to her. Two weeks later, the girl called and asked to go shopping together. I declined. I brought this up with my co-workers, the consensus was, don't socialize with the students (you wierdo). The more I think about it, the more of a dope I feel like for turning down these kids. If God wills for me to spend another year out here, I think I'll start taking them up on these offers. Was I (and my co-workers) being stupid for being so phobic about hanging out with them outside of class?

[Atavistic]

Were the coworkers foreigners or Koreans?

I don't hang out with my students, but I do hang out with my studiomates, and they're all younger than me.

In America, I used to go to "my kids'" soccer games, cheer competitions, and basketball games. None of these were through my school. They were almost all on Saturdays. I also took a former student to a puppet show once because I knew she'd like the theme--yes, I paid for everything. One of my students got my phone number from sneaking a peek at the school calling tree. He called me the entire next year to report on his grades and tell me about the girls he was seeing. I still email several of my former students.

But it depends on the students and the school and the parents. EDIT: And quite possibly YOUR gender.

[makemischief]

If, for example, you and a Korean teacher at your school wanted to take a small group of them on a field trip (pending parent approval) to a park or museum or playing ping-pong or whatever that would come across as you just being someone who really likes to help kids out (in the good way)... but one on one with a student who's not an adult? no matter how good your intentions may be I can't think of a way that doesn't come across as at least mildly creepy. If you really like and respect your students then I hope you care for them enough to find a safe and acceptable way to be in their company in an older sibling/role model kind of way.

[Bibbitybop]

Go with a group of students or bring along a Korean teacher. Korean teachers are often seen as guides, not just regular teachers you may find back home. For instance, students often have Korean teachers' handphone numbers and use them. I couldn't believe the teachers were willing to give this out, but they acted like it was no big deal.

I don't give out my digits or email, but I allow students to chill in my shared office. I only go out with them if Korean teachers are there because, no matter how pure you are, someone is going to think you are an evil westerner with evil intentions. And AIDS.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If you give them your email or handphone number you'll probably find that at first they're very interested in emailing / texting you and then the novelty quickly wears off. As for hanging out with them, it all depends on context. Never go somewhere with a student one-on-one and if in doubt try to get a KT to come along. Also, don't go anywhere with a student where a KT would never hang out, like a PC-bang. I wouldn't go play ping-pong at a student's aparta or go shopping with a student (well, maybe if I were female and so was she and it was more than one student).

It's not so much a question of what's appropriate by western standards as what's professional by Korean standards.

[Hyeon Een]

It isn't necessarily a big deal. I used to work in a library and taught classes which were free for anyone who signed up. Most of my kid students were from poor families who couldn't afford to go to hagwans. A few times I'd end up with only one kid because of school festivals or some such thing.

One time I went with a middle school boy to play tabble-tennis at the place next to the library. He probably spoke more English there than if we'd just had a one on one class in the classroom. We had a good time. Another time there was just one middle school girl there because all her friends were at her school's festival; we walked over to her school and watched some bands at her festival. A couple of times I took small groups of students out for toast-uh because it was the final class and most were absent.

Just use your judgement. And try not to get roped into things you don't want to do. There's nothing wrong with spending time with students in a public setting. If you're a 22 year old guy it might be best not to go to a noraebang alone with an 18 year old highschool girl though..

[Qinella]

I've hung out with my students before. Took 4 diligent middle school girls out for dinner one night. Met some of my 7th grade boys one day to hang out, hit the PC bang, shoot the breeze.. Went with a 5th grade student and his little brother and mother to see a movie. I used to live in a small town, so just walking around, I'd likely see my students and they'd follow me and try to find out where I lived (kept that a secret, though).

A good deal of my students have my phone number, and I theirs. I send texts if they are sick; they send texts when they are bored in class (a little bit annoying for me) and on holidays.

No problems, afaics. All depends on what you are comfortable with.

[oneofthesarahs]

A couple of my female middle school students have my email address. Occasionally they'll email me with "Hi teacher" emails or talking about boy problems. While I think it might be potentially creepy for a male teacher to email female middle school students, for me I think it's fine, and it really helps with classroom discussions because the girls feel much more comfortable around me. But they're generally a good group.

I don't think I would hang out with students outside of class, on general principle. Although I did run into one of my students on the street once, and he ran over to one of the street vendors and bought me some food before I could turn him down, so we stood around and talked for a little while.